Article 80 of the Saudi Commercial Papers Law
المادة 80 من نظام الأوراق التجارية · الفصل الثامن: تعدد النسخ والصور والتحريف
The Article lets a bill holder make exact reproductions with all endorsements and particulars plus a note that copying ends there, and gives the reproduction the original's rules on endorsement and aval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لحامل الكمبيالة أن يحرر منها صورا، ويجب أن تكون الصورة مطابقة تماما لأصل الكمبيالة بما تحمل من تظهيرات أو أية بيانات أخرى تكون مدونة فيها وأن يكتب عليها أن النسخ عن الأصل انتهى عند هذه الحد. ويجوز تظهير الصورة وضمانها احتياطيًّا على الوجه الذي يجري على الأصل، ويكون للصورة ما للأصل من أحكام.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 80 explained in plain English
This Article regulates reproductions of a bill of exchange, meaning those the holder makes of it.
- Who makes them: the holder of a bill may make reproductions of it.
- Requirement of exactness: the reproduction must be exactly identical to the original bill, including any endorsements or other particulars written on it.
- Closing statement: it must be written on the reproduction that copying from the original ends at that point.
- Circulation of the reproduction: the reproduction may be endorsed and guaranteed by aval in the same manner as the original, and has the same rules as the original.
Article 81 completes these rules: the name of the possessor of the original must be stated in the reproduction, and the possessor is obliged to hand the original to the lawful holder of the reproduction. If the possessor refuses, the holder of the reproduction has no right of recourse against its endorsers or guarantors by aval unless the holder proves by protest that the original was not handed over on request. Article 81 also provides that if it is written on the original, after the last endorsement made before the reproduction was made, that from then on endorsement is permitted only on the reproduction, any later endorsement on the original is void.
Reproductions differ from the copies of a bill dealt with in Article 79, which requires a person who sends one copy for acceptance to state on the other copies the name of the person in whose possession it is.
When making reproductions of a bill or dealing with them, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial matters and commercial papers.
Practical example
A merchant in Medina sent the original of a bill to another city and at the same time wanted to endorse it to his supplier. He made a reproduction exactly identical to the original, including its endorsements, wrote on it that copying from the original ended there, and then endorsed the reproduction to the supplier. The reproduction therefore has the same rules as the original.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 80 of the Saudi Commercial Papers Law
May a bill of exchange be reproduced and the reproduction endorsed?
Yes. The holder may make reproductions that are exactly identical to the original, and the reproduction may be endorsed and guaranteed by aval in the same manner as the original.
What are the requirements for a reproduction of a bill?
It must be exactly identical to the original, including any endorsements or other particulars on it, and it must state that copying from the original ends at that point.
Does a reproduction of a bill have the same rules as the original?
The Article provides that the reproduction has the same rules as the original.
More articles on Bill of Exchange
- Article 1
The article sets out the eight particulars a bill of exchange must contain, including the word "bill of exchange", the amount, the name of the drawee, the due date and the drawer's signature.
تشتمل الكمبيالة على البيانات الآتية: أ - كلمة (كمبيالة) مكتوبة في متن الصك وباللغة التي كتب بها. ب - أمر غير معلق على شرط بوفاء مبلغ معين من النقود. ج - اسم من
- Article 2
An instrument lacking the particulars of Article 1 is not a bill of exchange, except where the due date, place of payment, drawee's domicile or place of issue is missing, each of which has a substitute rule.
لا يعتبر الصك الخالي من البيانات المذكورة في المادة السابقة كمبيالة إلا في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا خلت الكمبيالة من بيان ميعاد الاستحقاق، اعتبرت مستحقة الوفاء ل
- Article 3
The article permits three ways of drawing a bill of exchange: to the drawer's own order, on the drawer himself, or for the account of another person.
يجوز سحب الكمبيالة لأمر الساحب نفسه، ويجوز سحبها على ساحبها، ويجوز سحبها لحساب شخص آخر.
- Article 4
The article permits stipulating that a bill of exchange be paid at the domicile of a person other than the drawee, whether in the drawee's town or in another.
يجوز اشتراط وفاء الكمبيالة في موطن شخص آخر غير المسحوب عليه سواء كان هذا الموطن في الجهة التي فيها موطن المسحوب عليه أو في جهة أخرى.
- Article 5
If the amount of a bill written in words differs from the amount in figures, the words prevail; if the amount is written several times and differs, the smaller amount prevails.
إذا كتب مبلغ الكمبيالة بالحروف وبالأرقام معا فتكون العبرة عند الاختلاف بالمكتوب بالحروف، وإذا كتب المبلغ عدة مرات بالحروف أو بالأرقام فتكون العبرة عند الاختلاف
- Article 6
Article 6 provides that any stipulation of interest on the amount of a bill of exchange is treated as if it had not been written.
اشتراط فائدة الكمبيالة يعتبر كأن لم يكن.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.